Pool-ball cabinet



(No ModelQ) L. H. F. OOQUAR-D & P. A. MGG'INNIS.

POOL BALL CABINET.

' No. 371,821. Q Patented Oct. 18,1887.

INVEJVTUR m Jlttorney N. PETERS, PhuhrLilhngnpher. Wruhingwn, D- C- LEONH. F. OOQUARD AND FRANCIS A. MiOGINNIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

POOL= BALL CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,82-1,dated October18., 1887.

Application filed February 6, 1886. Serial No. 191,052. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEON H. F. OOQUARD and FRANCIS A. MOGINNIs, ofDetroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a new anduseful ImprovementinPool-BallGabinets; and we declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which 1t pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification. I

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in the constructionof pool-ball cabinets, and more particularly as an improve ment upon asimilar device for which United States Letters Patent were granted to usAugust at, 1885, No. 323,854.; and it consists in the novel features ofconstruction and combinatlon of parts, hereinafter fully described, anddefinitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation showing the movable runwaywith triangle attached to its free extremity, Fig. 2 is a frontelevation showing parts in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionacross the cabinet. Fig. 4 1llustrates a modification in horizontalsect1on. Fig. 5 is a separate view of the improved drawer. Fig. 6illustrates the latch whereby the triangle may be removably engaged withthe runway. Fig. 7 illustrates another improvement in the constructionof the drawer, and'Fig. 8 is a separate view of the movable section ofthe channel; Fig. 9, a separate view.

We carry out our invention as follows:

A represents any suitable case.

B B represent the ways which constitute the spiral channel, the ways Bbeing located on the front side of the case, and serving also as shelvesto receive the balls of the various players, said ways B communicatingat the sides of the case with the ways B, located at the back of thedivision-wall A, the two ways or sets of ways in the front and the rearforming a continuous spiral channel from the upper to the lower end ofthe case. The ways B, which pass across the face of the case, areobviously all inclined in the same direction and from one side of thecase to the other, so that the balls will all have a tendency to rotatetoward the same side of the'case.

Instead of having shelves communicating with spiral runways located atthe ends of the shelves, our improvement as herein embodied contemplatesmaking the shelves themselves to constitute a part of said spiral track.

0 represents a series of slides or steps arranged to open and close thecommunication of the ways B with the ways B, so as to retain the ballsin their several receptacles or shelves until itis desired to dischargethem therefrom. These slides are shown as connected with a commonoperating-rod, D, whereby they may be simultaneously opened or closed.These slides are located at the lower ends of the ways B. We contemplateany mechanism for operating the slides as coming within the scope of ourinvention, either simultaneously or separately. They may be constructedto close antomatically, as by a spring, d, about the rod D, or they maybe operated automatically, in the manner hereinafter described.

E represents an adjustable channel or runway hinged or similarly engagedwith the case at one end, as shown at E.

A represents a discharge-orifice communicating with the spiral channel BB, and where- With said channel communicates with the ad justable runwayE when the latter is extended. This latter channel E may consist ofsections E E', &c., if desired, hinged together, as shown at 6, providedwith any suitable clamp, e, if preferred, or other device to limit andstrengthen the union of the sections when extended. This channel orrunway E may be variously connected with the operating-rod D, so as toproject it to open and close the slides automatically as the adjustablerunway is operated.

As shownin the accompanying drawings,

the runway E is provided with a hook, 6 or other device, connected witha bell-crank, F, which in turn is connected with a bell-crank, F, by arod, F, the rod D being engaged also with said latter bell-crank, F. Bythis construction it is evident that when the runway E is extended thehook or bar e will tilt I the bellcrank F and throw downward the outerarm of the bell-crank F and force downward the rod D. When the runwayEis folded up into the position shown in Fig. 1, the operation of thebell-cranks will be in the opposite direction and slides closed.

G represents a triangle,which may have any desired connection with theouter end of the adjustable runway, but preferably having a separableconnection by any proper means. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, Grepresents a latch, pivoted at g, G being a clamping-arm, between whichand the pivoted latch the triangle may be engaged, thehook g of thelatchengaging under a notch of the triangle to hold it in position.

It is evident that by the use of such a runwaythe same may be extendedand the balls discharged from the cabinet into the triangle G upon thetable, where the balls may be located in proper position and the runwayfolded up out of the way.

In Fig. 4, H represents atriangular drawer, which may be located in thebase of the case. Instead of discharging the balls through the runwayE,we would have it understood that we contemplate dispensing with saidrunway, if desired, and the discharge of the balls into the drawer Hinstead. For this purpose any suitable device may be employed to divertthe balls from the discharge-orifice A and into the drawer H. We haveshown in Figs. 3 and 8 an adjustable or movable section of the track BB, as shown at B. This section may be hinged or pivoted uponanoperating-bar, I, preferably provided with a milled head, I,by whichsaid section B may be turned up out of the way of the balls, which willthereby be caused to descend into the drawer H. In the construction ofthe said drawer we provide the bottom with an angle-iron, h, constructedto serve as aguide for the same, it being made removable, as describedin our patent hereinbefore referred to, and slanted toward the forwardpoint. We provide the sides of the drawer, als0,with an angle-iron, h,to receive the guide-flange of the angle-iron h. To form the handles ofthe box,we prefer to extend the angle-irons h, as shown in Fig. 7,screw-cut the ends, and apply wood handles. it thereto in the ordinarymanner.

Where the adj ustable runway E is employed, the drawer H may consist, ifpreferred, of an ordinary square drawer intended to receive the ballswhen not in use, as when the players are through the balls may all beturned into said drawer.

In case the triangular drawer is used we prefer to limit the removal ofthe sliding bottom, so that it cannot be wholly withdrawn. This may bedone by means of suitable stops,h

Instead of operating the rod D automatically in the manner described, itmay be arranged to be operated at will. Thus, in Fig. 8, the rod I maybe provided with a crank-arm, 1, arranged to engage the rod D and openthe stops. The stops (3 may simply consist of a piece ofbent wire, asshown in Fig. 9, or they may have any desired construction.

The ways B B may be constructed in any desired manner. It will beconvenient to construct them of wood grooved to form a track for theballs.

The adjustable runway may consist of one or more sections, as may bepreferred.

The ways B B, or at least their curved ends, may be lined to preventnoise.

J is the counter-balance attached to the adjustable runway to facilitateits being returned to its normal position adjacent to the case.

We lay no claim to the construction shown in the railway game apparatusof D. L. Willcox, July 11, 1882, N 0. 260,815.

What we claim is 1. The combination, with a pool ball cabinet, of aspiral channel, the convolutions of said spiral chan nel passingsuccessively across the face of the cabinet, and controlling valves orstops to said channel, substantially as described.

2. In a pool-ball cabinet, a spiral channel the convolutions of whichare separated by a, vertical wall located substantially as described,the said channel communicating with a discharge-orifice, A", on theexterior of the cabinet, substantially as described.

3. In a pool-ball cabinet, a spiral channel constructed of ways B B,communicating with each other through lateral end channels and dividedby a partition-wall, A, substantially as described.

4. In a pool-ball cabinet, a spiral channel, the convolutions of thespiral separated by a vertical division-wall, located substantially asdescribed.

5. In a pool-ball cabinet, a series of shelves to receive the balls,said shelves communicating with ways running crosswise of the cabinetsin rear of the said shelves to form a continuous runway, and incombination therewith stops to control the movement of the balls fromthe shelves to said ways, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a pool-ball cabinet, of a spiral channel havingits convolutions running across the face of the cabinet, said runwayconstructed to deliver the balls at one point or in one receptacle, andstops to control the passage of balls through said spiral channel,substantially as described.

7. In a stationary pool-ball cabinet, a spiral runway, the convolutionsof said runway extending successively across the face of the cabinet,and having a common discharge-opening, and in combination therewith anadjustable runway to communicate with the spiral runway, and stops tocontrol the movement of the balls through said spiral runway,substantially as described.

8. In a pool-ball cabinet, a spiral runway having 7 its convolutionsrunning across the face of the cabinet, and in combination therewithmovable stops connected together to be operated simultaneously,substantially as described.

9. In a stationary pool-ball cabinet, a spiral runway having inconnection therewith stops to control the movement of the balls and anadjustable runway to communicate with said spiral runway, saidadjustable runway engaged with said stops to automatically operate thesame, substantially as described.

10. In a pool-bal1 cabinet, the combination, with a spiral channel, of arunway adjustable with reference to said channel and composed ofsections jointed together to render it flexible, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a pool-ball cabinet, a runway pivoted at one end to the lowerportion of the case and provided with a clamping device at its extremityto engage a removable triangle, substantially as described.

12. In a pool ball cabinet, a triangular drawer provided with aremovable bottom, the side of the drawer provided with an angle-iron,

N. S. WRIGHT, M. B. ODOGHERTY.

